Violin-bow attachment



June 17, 1930.

J. w. KNOPP [1,763,660

VIOLIN BOW ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. '7, 1929 sion,

Patented June 17, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JULIUS W. KNOPP, OF TOLEDO, OHIO VIOLIN-BOW ATTACHMENT Application filed February 7, 1929. Serial No. 338,110.

This invention relates to bows for violins and other stringed instruments of like character,

The object of the invention is the proviin combination with a bow, of a thumbpicce or grip therefor, which is attached to the frog member of the bow for adjustment therewith and arranged to'facilitate movement and control of the bow while playing without necessitatin a firm tiring grip of the same by the han being, therefore, particularly valuble for use by beginners and unskilled players.

The invention is fully described in the following specification and, While in its broader. aspects it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figures 1, E2 and 3 are differentside views of the hand-gripping end portion of a bow with a thumb-piece embodying the invention attached thereto and with a portion of the hairs, shown in Fig. 2, broken away. Fig. l is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bow stick having the customary frog 2 at one end to which the hairs 3 are attached and being adjustable lengthwise of the stick by a turning of the end piece 4 to effect a tightenin g of the hairs, as well understood in the art. The frog has the usual extension or nose at its inner end in transversely spaced relation to the stick and to which is fitted the customary band 6, usually of metal, for clamping the hairs 3 to the frog.

The thumb-piece 7 embodying the inven tion lies along the inner side of the stick 1, preferably in contact therewith, and is disposed in convenient position to receive the normal stick gripping pressure of the thumb of a hand holdin the bow in proper playing position. The t umb-piece, in its present form, comprises a flat strip of suitable stiff material, such for instance as sheet metal, which has the thumb engaging side thereof facing the hairs 3 and has its forward end or that opposed to the frog 2 turned laterallv toward the hairs, as shown at 8, to receive the side thrust of the thumb when pushing the bow forward over the instrument hairs. The lateral extension 8 is preferably inclined with respect to a transverse plane of the bow, so as to restrict the space between the extension 8 and the frog from the entrance side of the thumb-piece inwardly. The thumb-piece 7 and its lateral extension 8 are preferably faced with leather or other soft material 9. Y

The thumb-piece is held in proper relation to the stick 1 and frog 2 by a neck portion 10, which forms an integral extension from the far side edge of the strip 7 and has the end portion thereof remote from the strip angling toward the rear end of the bow and extending to one side of the hair clam ing band 6, to which it is rigidly attached: so that the band, thumb-piece and its supporting neck constitute a single member. The neck 10 is preferably bowed outwardly adjacent to the strip 7, as shown at 11, so as not to interfere with the proper positioning of the thumb in engagement with the thumbpiece. It is apparent that in equipping old bows with my invention the thumb-piece may be attached to the band 6 of the how by soldering, or in any other suitable manner, and when being attached to new bows it may form an integral part of the band, if desired.

One'advantage of my invention is that the hair holding band 6, which is customarily employed on all bows, is utilized as the carrying means for the thumb-piece, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing separate attaching means and weakening or injuring the bow in the attaching operation. Another advantage of the invention is that by attaching the thumb-piece to the frog the two walls bear the same relation, irrespective of the adjustment of the frog on the bow stick. This is an important feature, for if the thumb-piece is attached to the stick its position with respect to the frog varies, according to the adjustment of the latter, and if the adjustment is other than very slight the difference will be noted in holding the bow, as the hand becomes accustomed to one position of gripping, and nothing should be at tached to the how that would change such position.

In the use of a bow with my attachment the fiat portion 7 of the thumbpiece forms a convenient and pleasing rest for the soft part of the thumb, and the lat eral extension 8 of the thumb-piece engages the side of the thumb and an edge of the nail so that a movement of the hand transversely of the thumb in a forward manipulation of the bow is communicated to the thumb-piece through the light side pressure of the thumb against the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bow having afrog and hair clamping band thereon, and a thumb-piece attached to said band.

2. A bow having a frog and hair clamping band thereon, and a thumb-piece attached to said band and disposed at the inner end of the frog and at the inner side of the bow stick.

3. A bow having an adjustable frog and a hair clamping member at the inner end of the frog, and a thumb-piece disposed at the inner end of the frog along the inner side of the bow stick with its forward end turned laterally towards the bow hairs and having an extension from its far side edge attached to and rigidly connecting said band and thumb-piece.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto thumb-piece signed my name to this specification,

JULIUS W'. KNOPP. 

